Vitali Klitschko's power.

Funny you mentioned Rahman because that fight was the last time Lewis was at a career heaviest. Mercer didn't look very effected by the weight gain and wasn't quite as old at that point. Lewis beat Klitschko in bad condition while aging, he would've beaten him more convincingly in his prime, but it's no suprise people are still coping, If you believe it's 50/50 you're delusional. Vitali didn't get better, if anything he gained more injuries post Lewis

 

He had 4 cuts.

 

Mercer had weighed heavier in prior bouts and weighed a pound more in his next fight. He was considered to have come in light to the Holyfield fight.

But he had put in the work, and turned in a very solid performance against Holyfield, as he did against Lewis, and would do so again against Witherspoon.

Mercer has been clear that his strategy had been to physically bully Lewis in the ring. The weight stood him in good stead as Lewis matched him for physicality and grit. That same approach wasn't going to work for Mercer at 224lbs.

Unlike Mercer's weight going into the Lewis fight, Lewis had weighed in at a career-high for the Vitali bout.

Most fans and pundits consider Rahman to have delivered a well-timed, virtually flawless, textbook right cross.

Poor defense can have that effect and Vitali's defense was particularly poor – offset only by the comparatively much poorer level of opposition he faced, after Lewis.

Vitali demonstrated he was getting "better and better" by beating who, exactly?

I'm fairly certain Vitali considers his performance against Old Man Briggs – an unrated lunger out-patient – to be his best.

Ifs and buts don't excuse a wide open defense and an inability to deal with business against the worst version of Lewis to enter a professional ring. Luck has nothing to do with Vitali's performance shortfalls.

 

I always was under impression that Vitali gets more credit for losing to Lewis than Rahman does for beating the guy. And that's nuts. Both fought the worst version of Lewis to date. Rahman capitalized, Vitali wasn't able to do so.

 

Top post!

 

Despite his high KO%, his power was really nothing special, it was down to the fact his opposition was mostly weak and he was naturally big, heavy handed strong guy

 

For sure.

Rahman was not in Lewis's class and one could even argue that he got 'lucky' when Lewis's complacency reared its troublesome head during the build up to their first fight. But the truth is that Rahman was a sturdy professional who did the work, was prepared and had optimized his chances of successfully taking an opportunity when it presented itself.

You have to give him the maximum of credit for that.

 

To be fair Rahman not getting as much credit is also partly due to Lennox Lewis fans themselves.

It definitely gets pointed out it context "Lewis has a glass chin though".

 

I think Lewis's performance in the rematch takes a fair bit of shine off the first fight. Primarily, because Rahman was never in it.

It demonstrated the gap in class that had always been there, serving as payback, with interest, to correct the anomaly.

 

A glass chin that Vitali could not shatter.

 

Myth.

 

Once again, Ruiz beats Holyfield in 2000 more or less the same way Lewis beat Holyfield in 1999. Why is Lewis's victory elite and Ruiz's not? (Ruiz should have won by a single point, like Lennox). In-fighter Ruiz suited Holyfield much better in style than out-fighter Lewis.

Mercer couldn't clearly defeat the past-prime Ferguson, drew with Marion Wilson, didn't win with the old Whitearspoon, and clearly lost to Holyfield. How the **** could any third fighter in history fight him for their life? Vit would have made mincemeat of him. He never lost a round against the likes of Mercer in '96 or McCall. Watch fights with Purritty, Bean, Donald—they're in the same league, exactly the same.

Vit suited Lewis as Frazier suited Foreman. He leaned back on his back and extended his arms in front of him. Perfect for Lewis. Lewis gained 3 kg (6.6 lbs). That's good for a fighter facing an immobile, aggressive opponent. Ask any coach. For such a large man, 3 kg (6.6 lbs) doesn't matter. And in the clinch, it actually helps. Lennox resembled a punching bag at times.

Vit, despite being 32 years old, was inexperienced and lacked confidence in what he was doing. Hell, he was nothing compared to Lewis. He continued to develop and improve. In subsequent fights, he became smarter. He had better power differentiation. He distanced himself better. He did everything better.

 

I am not agreeing he had a glass jaw FTR.

 

Ok, cool. You are quite unbiased. Did you ever see the youtube clip with him shipping bombs? It's eye opening.

 

In subsequent fights he fought worse and worse competition. That is why he did everything better.